Speech Aid Prostheses For Patients With Cleft and Other Craniofacial Birth Conditions.

Normal speech production is a complex mechanism requiring the coordination of several organs of the oral cavity. The lip, hard and soft palates, and teeth all play a role in normal speech production. In cases of craniofacial birth conditions such as cleft lip and palate or ectodermal dysplasia, one or more of these areas may be compromised.

Skeletal and Dental Habilitation of Residual Alveolar and Maxillary Clefts.

Management of residual clefts of the alveolus and maxilla requires the coordinated effort of multiple members of the craniofacial team including surgeon, orthodontist, and when teeth are hypoplastic or absent, the prosthodontist to achieve complete habilitation. Such cooperation among specialists begins early in the patient's life and continues through completion of care.Although numerous publications on this topic exist, few present definitive multidisciplinary reconstructive outcomes with longterm results.

Nasal outcomes of presurgical nasal molding in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Objective. Short-term nasal forms following primary lip repair were compared between presurgical nasal molding and control groups. Aim.

Measuring progressive soft tissue change with nasoalveolar molding using a three-dimensional system.

Background: For craniofacial orthodontics and surgery to progress, accurate temporal evaluation of soft tissue and skeletal change with treatment is necessary. Evolution in three-dimensional imaging eliminates certain inherent challenges in making such measurements in infants with facial clefts.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to measure progressive three-dimensional changes in nasal form in a series of infants with facial clefts during the course of presurgical nasoalveolar molding.

The importance of auricular prostheses for speech recognition.

Objectives: To examine the effects of an auricular prosthesis on sound levels at the entrance of the ear canal by measuring the auricular prosthesis transfer function (APTF) and to determine the effect of the prosthesis on speech recognition in noisy hearing conditions.

Methods: Eight prostheses were used to measure the APTF. A microphone at the entrance of the ear canal measured sound pressure levels with the prosthesis present or absent while the head was rotated 360 degrees at 30 degrees increments.

A new device for creating and positioning an autogenous cartilage framework during microtia reconstruction.

Objective: This paper describes the fabrication and use of a three-dimensional appliance, known as the microtia surgical positioner, to more accurately position and better sculpt the autogenous rib cartilage graft during microtia reconstruction.

Study Design: The authors introduce a new device design and surgical application.

Methods: An impression and plaster cast were made from the patient's auricular defect.

Osseointegrated craniofacial implants in the rehabilitation of orbital defects: an update of a retrospective experience in the United States.

Statement Of Problem: Since their introduction, craniofacial implants have been used in prosthetic rehabilitation of facial defects. The literature, however, indicates marked variability in outcomes using implants for the retention of orbital prostheses.

Purpose: A multicenter report updating the experience in the United States with the use of craniofacial implants for prosthetic rehabilitation of orbital defects is presented.

Prosthetic habilitation of patients with clefts.

Through clinical experience and research, treatment of cleft lip and palate has changed and im-proved dramatically. The team concept remains the key to success in the care of these patients. Prosthodontists remain integral members of this team because of the wide range of patient care services that they provide.

Electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles and mandibular movement during function in marginal mandibulectomy patients.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the masticatory muscle activity and mandibular movement during function in marginal mandibulectomy patients. Three marginal mandibulectomy patients and three healthy subjects participated in this study. The activities of the temporalis (TA) and masseter muscles (MM) on the normal and resected sides during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC) and gum chewing (Gch), and mandibular movement during Gch were analyzed.

Modified nasal alveolar molding appliance for management of cleft lip defect.

Nasal alveolar molding is used effectively to reshape the nasal cartilage and mold the maxillary arch before cleft lip repair and primary rhinoplasty. It provides aesthetic and functional benefits of nasal tip and alar symmetry and improved dental arch form. At The Craniofacial Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the authors have developed a modification of a nasal alveolar molding appliance previously described in the literature.